Three lighthouse keepers

 

Three lighthouse keepers

                     Eilean Mor Lighthouse, Flannan Isles, Outer Hebrides

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

In common with many others, I find lighthouses magical and awe-inspiring. When they were managed and maintained by lighthouse keepers, I marvelled at the life the men lived, cut off from society for weeks on end, living in the midst of the elements. It seemed a romantic life, dangerous, self-sufficient, vital.

The Eilean Mor Lighthouse, situated on one of the Flannan Isles of the Outer Hebrides, 70 miles off the mainland west coast of Scotland, was erected at the top of a 200-foot cliff and was first lit on 7^th December, 1899. The seven small islands, sometimes called the Seven Hunters, were named after Saint Flann, an Irish saint who lived in the 7^th century.

The Eilean Mor lighthouse was one of the first buildings to be constructed on the island and there is a mystery associated with it, which has never been solved and probably never will be.  In 1900, three lighthouse keepers were responsible for maintaining the light, with a fourth relief keeper, Joseph Moore, left ashore. They were Thomas Marshall, James Ducat and Donald McArthur and on or around 15^th December, 1900, they disappeared without trace and were never seen again.

The first indication that something was amiss was when the logbook of the steamer Archtor recorded that, despite appalling conditions, the light was not working. The observation was relayed to the Northern Lighthouse Board, (the authority responsible for lighthouses in Scotland and the Isle of Man) when Archtor docked in Leith on 18^th December. Continuing poor weather meant that a relief vessel was unable to reach Eilean Mor until 26^th December.

On arrival, Joseph Moore discovered that the lamps had been cleaned and refilled and the kitchen was clean and neat, but there was no sign of the three keepers.  Only one set of oilskins was found indoors, indicating that at least two men had gone outside the living quarters and perhaps, that one had disobeyed Lighthouse orders and ventured out without an oilskin.

A search of the island proved fruitless, but it was clear that storm damage had been considerable; iron railings were bent over or broken, a huge rock had been displaced and turf had been torn up some 33 feet from the cliff edge.

On 12^th December, the last entry in the log book recorded severe weather conditions, with hurricane force winds. The assumption was that a dreadful accident had befallen the men and that they had been swept away while outside.  No bodies were ever found.

Naturally, superstition and folklore took over the public imagination and rumours were rife that they had been carried off by a sea serpent, or a ghost-filled boat had spirited them away. Sadly, no absolute solution was found to comfort the wives and children of the keepers.

The sea is a cruel mistress. 

                                          Eilean Mor Lighthouse

                                    Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons